Harry was living with his boyfriend and his boyfriend’s mother before deciding to leave the family home. Following this, Harry moved in with his mother and stepfather.
During this time, Harry disclosed that he had experienced physical and emotional abuse from his mother and stepfather and no longer felt safe living there. He also revealed a history of physical and emotional abuse from his father, with whom he had not had contact for several years.
For a short period, Harry stayed with his aunt; however, the home was overcrowded, leading to tensions and frequent arguments. Recognising Harry’s need for a safe and supportive environment, his social worker made a referral for supported accommodation. Once accepted, Harry moved into one of our supported housing placements.
Initially, Harry found the number of residents in the accommodation challenging due to his vulnerabilities and anxiety. After completing his initial assessment, the decision was made to transfer him to a smaller, quieter setting—Flavia House—which better suited his needs.
Once settled at Flavia House, Harry continued his college studies, where he grew in confidence and developed a strong sense of purpose. Staff supported him to apply for university and complete his student finance application.
In addition to his academic progress, Harry received ongoing support to rebuild relationships with his family. Over time, he was able to re-establish positive connections with his mother and aunt, which was a significant milestone in his personal journey.
While living in supported accommodation, Harry developed excellent independent living skills, preparing him for the next stage of his life. With continued encouragement and guidance, Harry successfully secured his own tenancy with South Tyneside Homes.
Harry is now looking forward to completing his first academic year at university and continuing to build a positive, independent future.
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*Please note that names may have been changed and stock photography used to preserve the anonymity of this young person.
Photo by Ian Dooley on Unsplash